Printed sock with changeable appearance when cuffed

ABSTRACT

An outer appearance of a printed sock is changed when a cuff is formed. An outer graphic pattern is printed on an outer surface of a leg-covering portion of the printed sock. An inner graphic pattern is printed on an inner surface of a cuff portion of the printed sock. The inner printed graphic pattern is outwardly visible when the cuff is formed and changes the outer appearance of the printed sock.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/341,658, filed May 26, 2016, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to a stocking or sock and, more particularly, to a printed sock whose outer appearance is changed when the sock is cuffed.

BACKGROUND

An athletic or sport sock, commonly known as a “bobby” sock, is a knitted sock, typically without any external ornamentation except for its knit stitch pattern, with an upper leg-covering portion that is typically turned down to form a cuff between an ankle and a knee of a wearer. Sometimes, the knit stitch pattern is so knitted as to be prominent on an inner surface of the upper leg-covering portion, but not prominent on an outer surface of the upper leg-covering portion, in which case, the knit stitch pattern will be visible when the cuff is formed, but the outer appearance of the uncuffed sock will look unfinished.

Another known type of sock is a printed sock in which a design or artwork is printed on the outer surface of the printed sock in a heat transfer process. Although generally satisfactory for its intended purpose, the outer appearance of the cuffed printed sock is marred, because the inner surface of the cuff has no artwork.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a printed sock whose outer appearance is aesthetic not only when a cuff is formed, but also when a cuff is not formed, and whose appearance can be changed when the cuff is formed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, together with the detailed description below, are incorporated in and form part of the specification, and serve to further illustrate embodiments of concepts that include the claimed invention, and explain various principles and advantages of those embodiments.

FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D constitute a set of perspective views of a printed sock whose outer appearance changes in accordance with one embodiment of this disclosure during the formation of a cuff.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D constitute a set of perspective views of a printed sock whose outer appearance changes in accordance with another embodiment of this disclosure during the formation of a cuff.

Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.

The sock components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In accordance with one feature of this invention, a sock includes a foot-covering portion into which a foot of a wearer is inserted when the sock is worn, and a generally tubular, leg-covering portion into which a leg of the foot is inserted when the sock is worn. The leg-covering portion is integral with the foot-covering portion and has an upper, generally tubular, cuff portion foldable over the leg-covering portion to form a cuff. The leg-covering portion has an outer surface that faces away from the leg. The cuff portion has an inner surface that faces the leg when the cuff is not formed. An outer graphic pattern is printed on the outer surface of the leg-covering portion. The outer printed graphic pattern is outwardly visible when the sock is worn. An inner graphic pattern is printed on the inner surface of the cuff portion. The inner printed graphic pattern is not visible when the cuff is not formed, and is outwardly visible when the cuff is formed.

Advantageously, the cuff portion terminates in an upper, annular edge, and both the inner and the outer printed graphic patterns extend to the upper, annular edge. The cuff portion is preferably foldable about an annular fold line situated on the leg-covering portion. The fold line may be situated at a position in which the inner printed graphic pattern completely, or partially, covers the outer printed graphic pattern when the cuff is formed. Advantageously, the inner printed graphic pattern partially covers, and merges continuously with, the outer printed graphic pattern when the cuff portion is folded about the annular fold line. The outer printed graphic pattern preferably has an upright orientation, and the inner printed graphic pattern has an orientation that is inverted relative to the upright orientation.

In accordance with another feature of this invention, a method of changing an outer appearance of a sock, is performed by inserting a foot of a wearer into a foot-covering portion of the sock; by inserting a leg of the foot into a generally tubular, leg-covering portion of the sock, the leg-covering portion having an outer surface that faces away from the leg; by folding an upper, generally tubular, cuff portion over the leg-covering portion to form a cuff, the cuff portion having an inner surface that faces the leg when the cuff is not formed; by printing an outer graphic pattern on the outer surface of the leg-covering portion, the outer printed graphic pattern being outwardly visible when the sock is worn; and by printing an inner graphic pattern on the inner surface of the cuff portion, the inner printed graphic pattern not being visible when the cuff is not formed, and the inner printed graphic pattern being outwardly visible when the cuff is formed.

Turning now to the drawings, FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D and FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D constitute two different sets of perspective views of two different embodiments of a printed sock 10 whose outer appearance is in the process of being changed in accordance with this disclosure. The sock 10 includes a generally tubular, foot-covering portion 12 into which a foot of a wearer is inserted when the sock 10 is worn, and a generally tubular, leg-covering portion 14 into which a leg of the foot is inserted when the sock is worn. The leg-covering portion 14 is integral with the foot-covering portion 12 and has an upper, generally tubular, cuff portion 16 foldable over the leg-covering portion 14 to form a cuff 18. The leg-covering portion 14 has an outer surface that faces away from the leg. The cuff portion 16 has an inner surface that faces the leg when the cuff 18 is not formed. An outer graphic pattern 20 is printed on the outer surface of the leg-covering portion 14. The outer printed graphic pattern 20 is outwardly visible when the sock 10 is worn. An inner graphic pattern 22 is printed on the inner surface of the cuff portion 16. The inner printed graphic pattern 22 is not visible when the cuff 18 is not formed, and is outwardly visible when the cuff 18 is formed.

Advantageously, the cuff portion 16 terminates in an upper, annular edge 24, and both the inner and the outer printed graphic patterns 20, 22 extend to the upper, annular edge 24. The cuff portion 16 is preferably foldable about an annular fold line 26 situated on the leg-covering portion 14. In FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D, the fold line 26 is situated at a position in which the inner printed graphic pattern 22 completely covers the outer printed graphic pattern 20 when the cuff 18 is formed. In FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D, the fold line 26 is situated at a position in which the inner printed graphic pattern 22 partially covers the outer printed graphic pattern 20 when the cuff 18 is formed. Advantageously, in FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D, the inner printed graphic pattern 22 partially covers, and merges continuously with, the outer printed graphic pattern 20 when the cuff portion 16 is folded about the annular fold line 26. As also shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D, the outer printed graphic pattern 20 preferably has an upright orientation, and the inner printed graphic pattern 22 has an orientation that is inverted relative to the upright orientation.

FIGS. 1A and 2A show an uncuffed sock 10 whose outer appearance is displayed solely by the outer printed graphic pattern 20, and FIGS. 1D and 2D show a cuffed sock 10 whose outer appearance is displayed either solely by the inner printed graphic pattern 22 in FIGS. 1B, 1C, or by a combination of the outer and inner graphic patterns 20, 22 in FIGS. 2B, 2C. Thus, the sock can be worn cuffed or uncuffed, and, in each case, the sock has a finished appearance.

Each graphic pattern can be any colored or monochrome design or artwork or pattern, including text, as shown in FIG. 1D. The outer printed graphic pattern 20 displays a dressed human figure in FIG. 2A, and the inner printed graphic pattern 22 of FIGS. 2B, 2C display a differently dressed human figure. For the cuffed sock 10 of FIG. 2D, the outer and inner printed graphic patterns 20, 22 form a seamless, composite figure.

Printing of each graphic pattern is preferably performed by a dye-sublimation, heat-transfer, photoprinting process. The outer graphic pattern 20 is preferably printed by a 360 degree printing technique in which the seam lines are eliminated, while the inner graphic pattern 22 is preferably printed by a 180 degree printing technique. The different printing techniques help to resist color migration between the outer surface of the leg-covering portion 14 and the inner surface of the cuff portion 16. The fold line 26 is preferably formed by using a drop needle stitch, which forms an annular indentation on the leg-covering portion 14. The fold line 26 could also be formed by depositing a line of a rubber material or a like material around the leg-covering portion 14.

In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present teachings.

The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued.

Moreover in this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “has,” “having,” “includes,” “including,” “contains,” “containing,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, or contains a list of elements does not include only those elements, but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises . . . a,” “has . . . a,” “includes . . . a,” or “contains . . . a,” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, or contains the element. The terms “a” and “an” are defined as one or more unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. The terms “substantially,” “essentially,” “approximately,” “about,” or any other version thereof, are defined as being close to as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and in one non-limiting embodiment the term is defined to be within 10%, in another embodiment within 5%, in another embodiment within 1%, and in another embodiment within 0.5%. The term “coupled” as used herein is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly and not necessarily mechanically. A device or structure that is “configured” in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter. 

1. A sock, comprising: a foot-covering portion into which a foot of a wearer is inserted when the sock is worn; a generally tubular, leg-covering portion into which a leg of the foot is inserted when the sock is worn, the leg-covering portion being integral with the foot-covering portion and having an upper, generally tubular, cuff portion foldable over the leg-covering portion to form a cuff, the leg-covering portion having an outer surface that faces away from the leg, and the cuff portion having an inner surface that faces the leg when the cuff is not formed; an outer graphic pattern printed on the outer surface of the leg-covering portion, the outer printed graphic pattern being outwardly visible when the sock is worn; and an inner graphic pattern printed on the inner surface of the cuff portion, the inner printed graphic pattern not being visible when the cuff is not formed, and the inner printed graphic pattern being outwardly visible when the cuff is formed.
 2. The sock of claim 1, wherein the cuff portion terminates in an upper, annular edge, and wherein the inner printed graphic pattern extends to the upper, annular edge.
 3. The sock of claim 1, wherein the cuff portion terminates in an upper, annular edge, and wherein the outer printed graphic pattern extends to the upper, annular edge.
 4. The sock of claim 1, and an annular fold line on the leg-covering portion, and wherein the cuff portion is foldable about the annular fold line.
 5. The sock of claim 4, wherein the fold line is situated on the leg-covering portion at a position in which the inner printed graphic pattern completely covers the outer printed graphic pattern when the cuff is formed.
 6. The sock of claim 4, wherein the fold line is situated on the leg-covering portion at a position in which the inner printed graphic pattern partially covers the outer printed graphic pattern when the cuff is formed.
 7. The sock of claim 1, wherein the outer printed graphic pattern has an upright orientation, and wherein the inner printed graphic pattern has an orientation that is inverted relative to the upright orientation.
 8. The sock of claim 1, wherein the cuff portion terminates in an upper, annular edge; wherein the inner printed graphic pattern extends to the upper, annular edge; and an annular fold line situated on the leg-covering portion; and wherein the inner printed graphic pattern partially covers, and merges continuously with, the outer printed graphic pattern when the cuff portion is folded about the annular fold line.
 9. A method of changing an outer appearance of a sock, comprising: inserting a foot of a wearer into a foot-covering portion of the sock; inserting a leg of the foot into a generally tubular, leg-covering portion of the sock, the leg-covering portion having an outer surface that faces away from the leg; folding an upper, generally tubular, cuff portion over the leg-covering portion to form a cuff, the cuff portion having an inner surface that faces the leg when the cuff is not formed; printing an outer graphic pattern on the outer surface of the leg-covering portion, the outer printed graphic pattern being outwardly visible when the sock is worn; and printing an inner graphic pattern on the inner surface of the cuff portion, the inner printed graphic pattern not being visible when the cuff is not formed, and the inner printed graphic pattern being outwardly visible when the cuff is formed.
 10. The method of claim 9, and configuring the cuff portion to terminate in an upper, annular edge, and extending the inner printed graphic pattern to the upper, annular edge.
 11. The method of claim 9, and configuring the cuff portion to terminate in an upper, annular edge, and extending the outer printed graphic pattern to the upper, annular edge.
 12. The method of claim 9, wherein the folding is performed by folding the cuff portion about an annular fold line situated on the leg-covering portion.
 13. The method of claim 12, and situating the fold line on the leg-covering portion at a position in which the inner printed graphic pattern completely covers the outer printed graphic pattern when the cuff is formed.
 14. The method of claim 12, and situating the fold line on the leg-covering portion at a position in which the inner printed graphic pattern partially covers the outer printed graphic pattern when the cuff is formed.
 15. The method of claim 9, and configuring the outer printed graphic pattern with an upright orientation, and configuring the inner printed graphic pattern with an orientation that is inverted relative to the upright orientation.
 16. The method of claim 9, and terminating the cuff portion in an upper, annular edge; and extending the inner printed graphic pattern to the upper, annular edge; and wherein the folding is performed by folding the cuff portion about an annular fold line situated on the leg-covering portion such that the inner printed graphic pattern partially covers, and merges continuously with, the outer printed graphic pattern.
 17. The method of claim 9, wherein each printing is performed by heat transfer. 